Free The Brit by Jordan Silver Page A

plowed our way through our meal of eggs, toast and turkey bacon, with breakfast potatoes, while mum went on about the wedding plans. I didn't bring up the night before and neither did anyone else, that's my family for you, no unpleasantness at the table.
    After breakfast , dad asked Donald and I to come to the study before we headed out to the office. I'm sure I knew what it was about and though I felt badly for Donald's position, there was no way I'm going to give in on this. What she'd attempted to do was criminal; it could've ended in a young girl's demise. The fact that that girl was Joanna made me even less inclined to give a damn.
    "Okay boys , lets get right to it then shall we? Right, Donald, you have the most to lose in this situation, Jonathan you'd agree, so we'll hear from you first."
    Donald took a deep breath as he paced the room like a caged animal; my brother, for all his playfulness and overgrown loutishness, is a very soft- hearted sort. Nothing at all like me, who would destroy the enemy without a second thought.
    I hope he knew that I wouldn't let things end here, that my sense of justice would call for me to exact retribution against the ones who sought to harm my love.
    " Jonathan, I know how you must feel about all this mess, but I'm asking you as your brother, let me handle Natalie."
    I studied him for the barest of seconds.
    "And as my brother you know that's not going to happen; you know me, you all know me. Joanna's mine, I take care of what's mine.
    "Jon… ."
    "She's fucked dad, James fucking Thornhill? Of all the blokes in our circle, she chose the worst of the fucking lot. Do you have any idea what could've happened to her had they carried out their scheme?"
    "What about the Pendleton girl? You can't go around exacting your own brand of justice son, it's just not done."
    "Watch me."
    I left the room more pissed than when I went in. Now I had something else to add to the column against Natalie, as this will no doubt cause strain between my brother and I.
    I heard her laughter as I reached the morning room; she'd gone there with mum and Sandra. The room was a mess of wedding paraphernalia, and the girls seemed to be enjoying themselves, if the silly grins were anything to go by.
    Just then , the sunlight shone through the plate glass window; catching fire to the deep reddish brown streaks of her hair. My heart clenched at the sight of her, so young, so amazingly beautiful. And to think had I not taken that trip to the states I'd never have met her; the thought almost brought me low.
    No , I couldn't let it go. I'd brought her into my home, the bosom of my family, where she was supposed to be safe. They won't get away with any of it.
    She must've sensed my stare , because suddenly she turned to me, while mum and sis had their heads together over some book. The smile still on her face as the laughter faded.
    With just the lowering of my eyes I called her to me.
    She came without question or hesitation, and I took her hand and led her from the room.
    "Oh my..."
    My mother's softly whispered words reached my ears, as I changed course and headed back to our rooms. Looks like I was going to be late to work after all.

Chapter 23
     
     
    I left a very well satisfied fiancee home in our bed, as I headed out to work. I hadn't seen Donald since our meeting with dad, and wasn't sure what, if anything he'd decided to do about his wife, and the fact that I was going after her. For his sake, I would've gone easy, but I can't get the words she'd said on that recording out of my head.
    I'm no fool , I study people; in our business it's a good trait to have. I know now that she'd never accept Joanna; she'd always see her as inferior. And that crack about my Joanna tainting her children's name, was as low as she could go, as far as I was concerned.
    I entered the office with work the farthest thing from my mind. My first order of business was Thornhill. I had no doubt the other man would've liked nothing better